Monday, August 29, 2016

Quincy Police Lieutenant Charged with Defrauding his Department

Quincy Police Lieutenant Charged with Defrauding his Department

BOSTON – A Lieutenant with the Quincy Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed today in connection with collecting double pay while working for the Quincy Police Department in 2015.

Thomas Corliss, 51, was indicted on 12 counts of mail fraud and one count of fraud involving federal funds. Corliss was released on conditions following an appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal.

As alleged in the indictment, an internal investigation by the Quincy Police Department revealed that Lieutenant Corliss had fraudulently collected double pay for working multiple details and/or police shifts that overlapped on multiple occasions in 2015. It is also alleged that Corliss collected his regular pay while on vacation in the Bahamas and on Cape Cod in 2015. In total, Corliss’s defrauded the QPD of more than $10,000.

The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of fraud involving federal funds provides for a sentence of no great than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of 250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Ronald G. Gardella, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Ryan DiSantis of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.